Summer time is often when homeowners turn their attention to the exterior of their homes to do needed improvements and maintenance. Winter can leave driveways, patios and your garage doors all looking a little dingy. Not only will cleaning your garage door make it look better, it also can protect it from corrosion and damage. With a little soap, water and elbow grease, you can get your garage doors looking like new again this summer.
Garage Door Spring Maintenance Tips
Almost all garage doors, including wood, steel and aluminum can be washed using a mild household cleaner and water. Usually this will be about one part cleaner to five parts water. However, always check your garage door manufacturer recommendations before using any cleaner. Using a soft cloth or sponge, wipe down your garage doors inside and out with the cleaning solution, then rinse with water and wipe dry. Once clean, inspect your garage doors for wear.
- Rust. If you find any rust spots, moisture has penetrated the paint. You will need to sand off the rust and repaint the area, or repaint the entire door. If left unchecked, rust will eventually ruin your door.
- Bare spots. Are there bare spots where the finish or paint is gone or worn? Plan on painting or adding a finish coating to your doors this summer.
- Cracks. Hard winters can leave your garage doors worse for the wear. Inspect your doors for cracks or damage from the winter storms. You may need to replace panels or the entire door if there is cracks in the surface.
Once your doors are clean and in good repair, the next step on your summer garage door maintenance should be to have a tune-up performed on your opener. If it has been more than a year, call your local garage door service company to perform an annual tune-up and inspection.
Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors
